Power-transmitting device



March 24, 1931.. C. ARENS 1,798,009

POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed March 1'7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sine@I l was' C. ARENS POWER TRANSMTTTTNG DEVTCE Filed March 17, 1928 2 SheetS-Sheef- 2 March 24, 1931.

Patented Mar. 24, 19.371

UNITI-:Dl STATES PATENT'- oFF-1on- GIEAIBLES ABENS, .0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS rownn-rannsm'rmme nnvrcn Application led March 17, 1928. Serial No. 262,500.

The object of this invention is the provision of a tension and com ression power transmitting device that w1ll slide easlly around a bend in the tube within which it is '5 inserted and at the same time permit the end of the device tobe attached to a control lever so that the end of the device may bendor flex laterally to accommodate itself to the path of movement of the lever.

Another object resides in the construction of a device that will readily transmit torsional stress for the purpose of imparting rotational movement around a bend in a passa e to the element operated, as, for instance, t e stem of a watch or clock.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings and described in the annexed specification.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a sectional view `of the embodiment of my invention; l.

Fig. 2 is a view 1n elevation showing the action of the end of the power transmitting preferred member when connected toa control lever;

. Fig. 3 is a view showin the power ltranse guiding casing ;A Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modification; v

mitting member withoutr t so Figs. 5 and 6 are velevational vviewsof the vention is useful in anyesituation where it is 'I necessary to transmit power by pushing and pulling and where the power transmitting de'- vice must pass around a turn. f

Referring-to Figs.. 1 to 3, inclusive, 1 isa guiding tube through which the power transmitting member passes. 'Ihe power transmitting member may be inserted in the tube atythe time of manufacture and the whole yconstitute a single article, or the tube may `merely exist as a curved passage in the structure to whichmy flexible power transmitting member i's to be applied. The flexible power tated by pulli end member 2 is transmitting device comprises end members 2 and 6 joined by a cable 5 surrounded by a spring 4 between the yend members. The cable may pass through the holes in the end members 2 and 6 and attachedv by soldering or' 55 otherwise. The end member 6 is an' anchor may serve as .abutments and the member 2 is provided with recesses 3 for lubrication. The construction sofar described is substantially the same as that shown 1n my Patent No. 1,601,o99,*issued September 28', 1926. 7

In the patent, the endr memberto which the element to be controlled is attached extends within the tube causing the parts to bind in case the element or lever controlled moves in a path other than la straight line.

vIn order to overcome'this diiiculty I allow ,the cable and surrounding spring to extend beyond the tube or Acasing to permit the power transmitting `device to bend or flex When'it is attached to a lever or controlling 80 vvelement constrained#l to move in a path not in alinement with the controlling element. This is clearly illustrated in Fig'. 2 which t shows in dotted lines the position assumedl by the spring- 4 and cable 5 .when a lever is rc1-"85 on the endl member 2. As shown, the en member 6 is considerably shorter than the end member 2 and may have threaded therein an element 11v serving as a v connection to the lever 9 fulcrumed at 10. 9 The spring 11 is closely wound and presents -a smooth outer surface so that it may readily slide in and ,out past the end of the tube. The cable 5 transmits the power through tension'when the end member 2is pulled and 9.5 I

the spring 4 takes Pthe compression when the ushed within the tube. Referring tot e modication shown in f Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, it will be seen that the anchoring member 2is in the 'form of a slid- 100 'ing member extending into the casing the Yand 12 or 12 may be connected by a sleeve,

.as shown in Fig. 4. The last-mentioned tension and compression Vmember serves the same purpose as the flexible portion ofthe power transmitting member extending beyond the guiding tube illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The end member 12 may be coupled to a lever or other control medium by a coupling similar to that shown in Fig. 2.

Where the end of the device is attached to an element the control of which necessitates the transmission of torsional stress by rotating the power transmitting member, as, for instance, in Winding a clock, the lspring 4 surrounding the cable will be soldered or fastened to the end members 2 and 6' in Figs.

1 to 3, or to the end members 2 and 2 ink Figs. 4 and 5.

Where acoil is used, the separate coils thereof form separable ring-like elements which separate the necessary amounttoward the side of the bend having the greater curvature, as illustrated in Fig. 1, where the ends of the ring-like elements or coils of the spring 4 .are slightly vseparated at the left or upper side of the curve. In case the separable ringlike elements are constituted by separate Washers, the washers must be thin enough to allow them to pass around the bend by permitting the ends of the Washers or rings to separate sufficiently at theends adjacent the side of the curve of greater curvature.

1. In combination with a guiding casing having a bend therein, of a tension and compression power transmitting member adapted at one end to be attached to a control -lever having curvilinear movement, said member comprising a flexible cable within said casing extending around said bend and beyond one end thereof,` and a coil spring surroundin said cable and extending around san? bend and beyond the end of said casing to permit lateral fiexing of the portion of said member extending beyond said casing sufficient to accommodate curvilinear movement of said lever, sa1d cable and spring being secured together substantiall at the point of connection of the same Wit said lever. y

.2. In a flexible power transmitting unit,

exible tension transmitting element extending through said casing and beyond one end thereof, a coiled compression transmitting element surroundin said tension element and also extending Ileyond the said end of said casing, and means for holding the extending portions of said tension and compression members in fixed relation With each other to forma unitary flexible element which is laterally flexible beyond said casing, said coiled compression element havin the turns thereof wound closely to eac other.

3. In a-fiexible power transmitting unit, the combination with a casing, of a rigid member slidable in one end of said casing, a flexible tension element connected at one end to said rigid member and extending beyond the end of said casing, a coiled compression transmitting element embracing said tension element and also attached at one end to said rigid member and extending beyond said casing, and means for holding yesl v the other ends of said elements in fixed relation to each other at a point beyond the-l end of said casing to permit lateral flexing of said combined elements.

4. In a flexible control unit, the combination with a casing, of a rigid member slidable within said casing, a second rigid member outside of one end of said casing, a fiexible tension transmitting element connecting said members, a coiled compression element embracing said first element and connected to both of said members, the convolutions of said coiled lcompression element being in `abutting relation with each other when transmitting a compressional force ,exerted thereon.

5. In a exible power transmitting unit,V the combination with a casing of a rigid member slidable in one end of said casing, means for moving said member longitudinally of said casing, a flexible tension element positioned beyond said casing and releasably connected to said rigid member which is slidable within saidcasing, a coiled compression element embracing said flexible tension element, the coils of said compression element being in abtting relation with l each other and means for holding the oppo- *site ends of said compression element in fixed relation to the ends of said flexible tension transmitting element. I l

.- In testimony whereof 'I have signed my name to this specification on this 14th da of March, A. D. 1928.

CHARLES ARENS. 

